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Alaskan author Leon Mensch wins first place, the Gold Award, at the 2020 Moonbeam Children's Awards in Animals/Pets Fiction with his debut book, Me-Now, The Adventures of Mickey the Mushing Cat. CONGRATULATIONS!! For a complete 2020 Winner's List, click here.
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Relevant Publishers LLC warmly welcomes previously published author Kerry Olitzky to our house. We will be working with Kerry on his newest children's book on Shabbat in Alaska titled, A Whale of a Tale. Dr. Olitzky has been named as one of "The 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America" by Newsweek. Currently an associate at Mersky, Jaffe & Associates (MJA), Dr. Olitzky served formerly as vice president of the Wexner Heritage Foundation, the premier adult Jewish learning and Jewish leadership program in North America. Previously, he was national Dean of Adult Jewish Learning and Living of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where he served on the faculty and administration for 15 years following his tenure as rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT. He is also a prolific author, writing over 75 books.  We hope to see you tomorrow at the Once In A Blue Moose gift shop at their 4th Avenue & F location in Anchorage for Alaskan author and Kasilof musher, Leon Mensch, new book signing. The signing begins at 1:00 pm, right after the ceremonial start of the world famous Iditarod Sled-Dog Race and before the Fur Rondy's Running of the Reindeer downtown. Leon will be bringing a picture of the real Mickey, his adopted cat, to the book signing too! Come and meet Leon and get a glimpse at Mickey, the inspiration for Me-Now, The Adventures of Mickey the Mushing Cat is the first book in a new series for children, grades 3rd to 5th. 
 Relevant Publishers LLC was honored to assist author Jeannette Brown in producing her debut children's picture book about service to others. Jeannette is battling early on-set Alzheimer's and a portion of proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to the Alzheimer's Associate to help others diagnosed with this disease. Officially, the book was launched by Dyer West Press in December 2019. Book Synopsis: In her new book, Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift, author Jeannette Brown shares her legacy of a life of service to others where she learned the most valuable gift we can offer is our love, time, and attention. Emily Higgenbotham is a very little girl with lots of friends. Emily spends time with one of her friends daily. One day, she decides she wants to give a very important gift to her friends. But being so small she wonders how she can really make a difference or give them the right gift. What special thing can she do so they know how she feels? With her mother's help, Emily learns the most important gift she can give is of herself. Emily learns SHE is the gift her friends needed most.
We also had a lot of wonderful children's books including Brooke Hartman's newest release: Dream Flights on Arctic Nights. Ms. Hartman was the Alaska Writer's Guild president in 2019.
 
The most encouraging author I was privileged to meet was Adam Freestone. Adam writes the Sentinel Flame Series and his bio states, "he is a near quadriplegic man afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy, confined to a wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator, but despite everything he has going against him, he never lets it stand in his way. He is a go-getter, animal and nature lover, MDA participant, and smart minded writer. Everything that goes into his stories is carefully considered, nothing he writes goes down casually." After meeting Adam, I'd have to completely agree! His capitvating book covers are only a hint of this thriving and enthusiastic author. Book 1 is called Hyroe and is a fantasy book that has received 5-star ratings. His second book is coming soon.
 
Hope to see you at next year's book fair. Until then, you can purchase these books from your local bookstore or on Amazon.
Here's a sneak peek at some of the illustrations in our new book MeNow: The Adventures of Mickey the Mushing Cat, book 1 from Leon Mensch. Releasing February 2020 just in time for the Iditarod! 
This year Relevant Publishers LLC is proud to sponsor the first Alaskan Book Booth, where Alaskan authors, illustrators, and publishers will be displaying unique books. Come out August 22nd -September 2nd to meet your favorite authors. We are located on the Red Trail between the Red Gate and the Don Sheldon Event Center (the large, green metal building). A schedule of current author signings is listed below.
Relevant Publishers LLC is proud to announce author JerriAnn Webb has joined our family. JerriAnn is a passionate visionary who loves life and loves people. She encourages and inspires others to discover who they are in Christ and is Founder and President of LightSpeaks, a faith-based consulting company and is co-Founder of Light Breaks Through, a non-profit dedicated to helping people encounter God. JerriAnn has degrees in English, Theology, and Marriage and Family Therapy.
She is also author of The Kingdom – A Children’s Story of Identity and Inheritance. This books was #1 on Amazon's list for Children's Bible Stories. JerriAnn has a God-given ability to speak truth with humor. She is always smiling, ever ready for an adventure. Alongside her husband Matt, JerriAnn attends and serves on the leadership team at their church. JerriAnn and Matt have two children and live in Florida. We are excited to be part of her second book project: The King in You based on the life of King David and created to help children understand their identity in Christ and that their calling in God's Kingdom begins even when they are young. 
It has long been suspected Lewis Carroll experienced migraine phenomenon that he incorporated into his book, Alice in Wonderland. In 1955, the neurological experience described in Carroll's book was officially documented and labeled by psychiatrist John Todd as the "Alice In Wonderland Syndrome" (AIWS). Just as in the book, patients feel, see, and experience abnormal shifts in reality, where objects can appear bigger or smaller, time is distorted, and straight lines bend and become curvy. You can learn more about AIWS at WebMD.
Many authors writing science fiction, fantasy, and dystopia often incorporate human diseases or physical ailments into their books, some based on personal experience and some imagined. When authors weave their personal experiences into literature, these stories have more insight to offer the world than just simple plot or character development. They offer rare glimpses into the struggles of reality faced by people coping with medical conditions. The ability to relate and understand the complexity of experiencing life with such a condition is a gift to society. It develops our ability to have compassion towards others we didn't understand and gives us a glimpse into another dimension from which we draw wisdom and knowledge previously unavailable to us in our "normal" state of existence. Literature like Alice in Wonderland offers far greater depths when we don't read stories with a narrow viewpoints or classification of genre. Carroll's "children's book" was representative of the struggles he faced in his adult life. His book was so influential, the entire medical community not only took notice, but aptly named the condition after his work.
 Sharon Aubrey teaches the first group of K-2 students.
This weekend author Sharon Aubrey from Relevant Publishers LLC participated in the Young Writers' Conference in Palmer, Alaska. This conference was open to all school age children between Kindergarten and 5th Grade in the Matanuska-Susitina Borough School District. There were approximately 300 children that attended the conference.
Ms. Aubrey taught three different groups of students, totaling 54 children in grades K-2 about the writing process. She also shared with them the story of Mimsy Mouse Searches for a New Home by Linda N. Walz and Stephan Linton. All the children loved Ms. Walz's story and many were excited to learn Ms. Walz was a grandmother writing new books. Many kids hope to read the entire series of Mimsy's adventures on Farmer Brown's farm. After learning about the parts of a story, Ms. Aubrey challenged students to write their own stories about a moose who had a dream or talent that the other moose didn't understand. These moose were not "normal." Students had to come up with a problem for their moose and a solution. The stories the children created were so imaginative that there was one moose who landed on the moon. A different moose went ice skating. Another moose wanted to operate an ice cream truck but was too big to fit through the truck doors. A magic shrinking potion helped him accomplish his goal to fit through the doors and sell ice cream cones to children. We also had a moose that got lost accidentally boarding a barge and went to the city. And there was a moose named Bruce with a loose tooth who couldn't eat his regular food, so he had to drink milkshakes. There were even a few moose that were like Mimsy Mouse and lived on a farm and needed help from their friends to find a new home. Overall, it was a wonderful and educational day!   
Kids Book Buzz has given our latest children's book
Mimsy Mouse Searches for a New Home by Linda N. Walz their highest rating! Buy It Now!
Today's Alaskan book is Clever Little Bird by Betty L. Hedstrand is a cute children's story for ages 3 to 8. Released in 2016, this story has five star reviews. Ms. Hedstrand writes, "Just like the moose, she prefers eating plants and being outdoors." Her inspiration to write this story came while on a walk along the Coastal Trail in Anchorage, Alaska. Betty has lived in Alaska for over four decades and has often stopped her car to let moose cross the road. Her background includes working as an substitute elementary school teacher and as proprietor of a retail art store. Betty combined her lifelong interest in reading, art and outdoor activities to create this story. A kid at heart, Betty loves to spend time with children especially reading or making art!  Book Synopsis:
Clever Little Bird. The story begins at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska where Auggie, a bored bull moose lives. He meets a noisy magpie named Maggie who offers to eat his pesky mosquitoes. The two become friends. Maggie learns that Auggie feels lonely and thinks he looks weird. He misses his brother who ventured off to the Chugach Mountains. Maggie suggests a visit, and her clever behavior convinces Auggie to invite her to be his "eyes above." As lookout, Maggie leads him along city trails and finds ways to solve problems they encounter. Through their friendship Auggie discovers that Maggie is not the annoying birdbrain that her reputation suggests, but that she is actually quite clever. By the end of the story Auggie learns a valuable lesson about friendship. Maggie proves she is not a birdbrain! Join these characters on a reading adventure that features the unique scenery of Anchorage, Alaska. Children will happily engage with the "bird talk" dialog throughout the book and take away lessons about first impressions and friendship. Everyone will delight in the whimsical and expressive art created by Chris Floyd.
Mimsy's finally here!
Today is the Official Release of Mimsy Mouse, book 1
written by Linda N. Walz, illustrated by Stephan Linton. Mimsy Mouse Searches for a New Home is a new children’s picture book helping children deal with the loss of a home due to unforeseen circumstances. The story begins when Mimsy Mouse suddenly loses her house to natural disaster when Farmer Brown’s water trough breaks and floods her home. Mimsy experiences the sadness and fear of losing all her personal belongings. Encouraged by her friends, she goes on an adventure to find a new place to live. Mimsy explores her worst fears through her imagination while searching for potential new homes. Overcoming real and imagined obstacles, Mimsy discovers a new place to live and learns the wonderful lessons of friendship and love from your family and friends make a house, a home. This children’s picture book target audience ranges from preschool to age 7. Mimsy can help younger children journey through their emotions after a flood or other natural disaster strikes their home by relating to the title character's experiences. Mimsy Mouse Searches for a New Home also encourages children to look beyond their current situation and gives them hope of a better future. The story has the feeling of reading like a classic story, well beyond the basic children’s picture book.
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